Fraser Beattie

The amount of money spent by businesses in Western Australia on research and development fell by 34 per cent in the five years to 2013-14, a new study has revealed.

Local explorers Black Rock Mining and Anson Resources have shed some light on their path towards producing graphite at their respective projects.

Padbury Mining could soon end its 15-month long ASX trade suspension after attracting a private Chinese investor for a $2 million capital raising.

Rob Bransby has announced he will no longer leave his post as managing director of the state’s largest health insurer to become chief executive of Perth Racing.

Perth experienced a slight improvement in the Residential Property Price Index during the December quarter, but still suffered a 2.9 per cent fall for 2015 overall, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said today.

Internet provider TPG Telecom has forecast a strong end to the financial year after its interim net profit nearly doubled, thanks to its $1.56 billion takeover of Perth-grown rival iiNet.

North Fremantle-based Carnegie Wave Energy has acquired a 35 per cent stake in solar power and lithium battery storage provider Energy Made Clean through a $4.5 million investment.

Silicon Valley-based 1-Page, which was an early mover in the wave of backdoor tech listings on the ASX, has sought to reassure investors after most of the spectacular share price gains it achieved in 2015 were wiped out this year. 

Danakali has tapped investors for a $5.5 million capital raising to fund work at its Colluli potash project in Africa.

Adelaide-based York Civil has been awarded a $32.1 million contract to build the new Charles Street bus bridge and busway for the state government.

Engineering and infrastructure group RCR Tomlinson has won a contract to provide early work on a solar farm in Queensland for Origin Energy for an undisclosed sum.

Perth-based Bone Medical has made a second attempt at a backdoor listing, today announcing plans to acquire a US dermatology company and adopt its business model.

Local waste management firm Tox Free Solutions is expanding its east coast presence with the acquisition of Worth Corporation for $70 million.

Perth-based Panoramic Resources has released an updated scoping study on its renamed Gum Creek gold project in the Murchison region, which details plans for a smaller operation with a lower capex.

Four local construction companies have won a combined $28.5 million worth of work from the state government.

Perth-based Palace Resources is one step closer to becoming a tech company, after completing a $4.5 million capital raising as part of a reverse takeover of TikForce.

Former Skilled Group boss Angus McKay has been named chief executive of convenience store chain 7-Eleven, replacing Warren Wilmot who resigned from the role last September after revelations of franchise staff being underpaid.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal’s long-running relationship with the US Navy has generated more work, with the company receiving a $US13.9 million ($A18.1 million) addition to a previously awarded contract.

Shares in Perth-based MOD Resources surged 350 per cent today on positive drilling results at the company’s copper tenements in Botswana.

The chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto will hand the reins over to the leader of the company’s copper and coal division later this year.

The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has named the top 10 Perth suburbs that have recorded the fastest average selling days for the year to February.

Flinders Mines shares have surged after the Pilbara focused iron ore junior received a $38 million takeover offer from private New Zealand company Todd Corporation, which last year offered to buy Flinders' major project.

Shares in TW Holdings slumped sharply today after it announced a backdoor listing of medical cannabis company AusCann Group Holdings, the second deal of this type involving members of the Washer family.

Doray Minerals has posted a sizeable boost in net profit for the six months to December, as the company works towards opening its second gold mine in Western Australia later this year.

Local technology company DTI Group has picked up its second contract for work in Ireland this month, announcing today it will provide its services to a European manufacturer which is building buses for use in Dublin.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has secured $10 million worth of new work, including a contract with Western Power.

Perth-based Decmil Group has won a $30.6 million contract to build a warehouse hub in Port Hedland for a subsidiary of BHP Billiton.

Troy Hayden will step down from the helm of Tap Oil as the company swings the axe on jobs and operations so it can meet its now-restructured debt repayment obligations.

Local tech company iWebGate has signed a $US8.6 million ($A11.4 million) funding deal with an entity managed by US-based Lind Partners to help grow its business.

Western Areas founder Terry Streeter has emerged as a major shareholder in nickel and gold explorer St George Mining, after participating in a $2.13 million capital raising.

Matrix Composites & Engineering has sold its engineering workshop in Malaga for $3.25 million, with the proceeds to be used to further reduce the company's debt.

Gold hopeful Blackham Resources has tapped investors for a $20.3 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Matilda project near Wiluna.